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Sunday, August 11, 2013

Flash from the Past - Vogue 2853


I am joining with Patti and the other fabulous ladies of Visible Monday!

Yesterday I went shopping in Union Square with DD1, who (among other things) wanted to buy a birthday gift for DD2. DD2's birthday isn't until February, but she will be in Ecuador or Thailand or some such country on her actual birthday, so DD1 is thinking ahead.

DD1 took this picture in Yerba Buene Gardens in downtown San Francisco. I am wearing the first tailored jacket I ever made, back in 1984 or '85, when I took tailoring from Ronda Chaney at Cañada College. I am also wearing my Barb pants (gee, I wear these a lot! I need to make more...) and a tank purchased from Uniqlo. My necklace is a fabulous art piece I bought in Lititz, Pennsylvania on my East Coast blog tour of 2011.

The pattern is Vogue 2853, a Claude Montana jacket. The jacket is fairly conventional, with two welt pockets, a notched collar, and set in sleeves. The interesting twist is the contrasting trim at the upper collar, the sleeve hems, and triangular appliques on the shoulders. The plaid cashmere fabric was from Britex, the contrast is green pig leather that I mail ordered, and the lining is a scrumptious, beefy silk charmeuse from Thai Silks. It was in this class that I first learned that I have narrow shoulders, as I still remember my dismay that I had to chop off the tips of the triangular points to accommodate my narrow shoulder width. (In the end, it was fine!)

The jacket also features a Spanish Snap buttonhole. Ronda Chaney worked, way back when, with Roberta Carr, who later published this technique in her book and video. At the time I'd never even heard of a Spanish Snap buttonhole, but it's a great technique.

When I made this jacket in the 80s, I weighed approximately 130lbs. I didn't wear the jacket much before I outgrew it and it's been in a closet for years. About a year ago, DD1 spied it and tried it on. She loved the retro feel and asked if she could abscond with it to college. I wasn't quite ready for it to become college wear, but I told her I'd think it over.

Recently I started thinking about the jacket again. I now weigh 125lbs (40 lbs lost since last October), less than I did when I made the jacket, but the weight is distributed differently, so I was a bit nervous about actually trying it on. When I got dressed for my outing with DD1, I decided that I would attempt to wear it, and I tried to find clothes that fit me and would coordinate with the colors in the jacket. (I can see I need new basics in a wider variety of colors!)

After I was dressed and ready to go, I retrieved the jacket from the back of the closet and, cautiously, slipped it on, prepared for it not to fit me and already planning an alternative outfit.

It fit!

It felt so weird to wear this yesterday, but it's so soft, comfy, and luxurious. In fact, my first stop was to Britex to buy buttons for my current project. As I entered the store, on the first floor where the woolens are located, I found myself staring up at the ceiling-high fabric stacks, wondering if they still have a similar fabric and thinking about my mom, who was diagnosed with the cancer that killed her while I was taking the tailoring class.

DD1 noticed my jacket right away yesterday and said, "Hey, that's the jacket I wanted!"

She may have to wait a bit longer. ;)

58 comments:

  1. Gorgeous! "What goes around comes around"!

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  2. How exciting to be able to wear it again! It looks so beautifully made. Pig skin no less!!

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  3. Oh my goodness I remember that pattern! Don't remember why I didn't buy it, but I didn't. May have to now. The jacket looks great, how exciting to be able to wear it again!

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    1. Thanks! It's nice because it's not designed for huge shoulder pads, so it's not too dated, I think.

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  4. Very exciting to be able to wear that jacket again! I have none of my makes from way back then, but I sure wish I did!

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    1. Yeah, I don't have many either. Thanks, Andrea!

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  5. I had that pattern back in the 80s! I made the pants. I don't have them anymore though. It is a nice jacket, I can see why DD1 would want it.

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    1. Thanks, Graca! Cool! I never used the top or the pants.

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  6. Nice to hear that you still have that wonderful garment and are able to wear it again! I'm putting off taking that tailoring class at Cañada, but I am signed up for the draping class this fall (just made my dress form to use with it during summer school).

    Laurel

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    1. Oh, Laurel, how fabulous! I wish I was taking it with you!

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  7. This jacket is so awesome! Congrats on the weight loss!

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  8. Gorgeous jacket, and how utterly great that it fits so beautifully. Congratulations!

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  9. Thanks, Wendy! Certain things, like shoulder width and sleeve length, just don't change. :)

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  10. Jacket looks timeless and wonderful on the new you. I have that pattern and made the shirt lots in the '80's from memory it was a very nice fit if a little large. Unfortunately I never made that jacket.

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    1. Thanks, Jacquianne! Interesting! Graca made the pants and you made the top!

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  11. So beautiful! What a reward for your fitness accomplishments!

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  12. I hope you are feeling suitably smug about making your daughter wait for the jacket ;) You look terrific in it, and it shows that you have been sewing beautifully for most of your life! I love the back detail with the contrast trim, this looks like something very current to me.

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  13. Hey Shams! This is one of those 'cue the weird music' moments. I am visiting via Visible Monday. I always like to see what my peeps are up to, and I clicked on your site because of your blog name. I am, at present, in a sewing match and I have been asked to share what the best thing I have sewn is. Well, I was thinking of all the things I've sewn, and one of the garments that came to mind is this very jacket pattern. I made the pattern twice...once all hand tailored, and once using machine tailoring techniques. The hand tailored one was cream wool. {Sigh} That would have been in 1986 or 87. I don't either one anymore...I grew a bit bigger and they just didn't fit well. You did a fantastic job with your jacket. Bravo! It's a timeless design and will never go out of style.

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    1. Wow, Sue! What a huge coincidence! Thanks for stopping by!!

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  14. What a great jacket, as Sue says above, I think its a timeless design that won't outdate

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  15. It is a lovely jacket and is perfect for your colouring.

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    1. Thanks, SarahLiz! It works with my then-brown hair and my now-red hair. That is convenient. :)

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  16. that is so exciting. beautiful jacket!

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  17. Now see what you've done for all of trying to purge our closets? (wink)

    Great jacket. Nice work in beautiful fabic in a classic style lasts and lasts. Sewing quality is so worth our investment of time and money. Hear that all you fast fashion addicts out there?

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    1. LOL. Yup, purging a classic might not be a good idea!

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  18. Beautifully made jacket and you look wonderful wearing it! Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday.

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    1. Thanks, Patti, and thanks for creating a fun blog activity!

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  19. Wow. That jacket looks great and so do you! I love that Claude Montana pattern. I made the pants (twice) and shirt way back when. Loved them both!

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    1. Thanks, Helen! I guess I should have made those items while they were still in fashion!

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  20. Great jacket and great story! I still have my first tailored outfit hanging in my closet. It's from 1983 and I was 15 years old. It's pretty fitted so there is no way I will ever be able to wear it again but you've inspired me to do a "flashback" blog post so I can show it off a little.

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    1. Yikes. I weight the same as I did at 16, but I doubt I could wear a fitted garment from that time!

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  21. I have that pattern somewhere, too. It's so classic and perfectly proportioned for those of us with short waists and long legs. It was beyond my skills when I purchased it but so gorgeous, I bought it anyway. Thrilled to see how beautifully it fits you and what an incredible job you did on it. Hope DD isn't getting it anytime soon.

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    1. Yes, this jacket has good bones, moushka! Maybe it's time to break it out. :)

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  22. What a great jacket! And such beautiful details and sewing (as usual)!

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  23. great jacket - I am ashamed to say that I have the exact same pattern which have never been cut out - I think I made the blouse - but you know from time to time I look at the pattern and still love the over all look on the envelope.

    Congrats on the great weight loss results.

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    1. Very cool, Pauline! A lot of sewists seem to have this classic pattern.

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  24. Such a classic look - AND it looks great on you! Expanding your horizons ;-)

    You've inspired me to join in Visible Monday, too!

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    1. Great, Jillian! Welcome to the pack of visible women. :)

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  25. My Berkeley roommate in 1985 had made the exact same jacket. In fact, she had made all 3 pieces: the jacket in wool tweed, the shirt in shot cotton, the pants in cotton twill.

    She had huge shoulders in relation to the rest of her (which was normal), so the jacket fit her very well without any special pattern fitting.

    I recently purchased the pattern from Lanetz and want to try it out.

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  26. Awesome jacket - look GREAT on you!
    (I'm so jealous you have Britex)

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  27. You and the jacket look wonderful. What goes around comes around and this jacket proves it.

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  28. Shams, the jacket is timeless and you look marvelous wearing it.
    I was taking a 20 year hiatus from sewing during that time period, but I do have some RTW jackets from that era that I simply cannot let go. Periodically I take a look at them and ponder about keeping them. Just last week when I was thinking of Fall wardrobe, I pulled out a black wool one that is double breasted and I am contemplating, removing some buttons and wearing it as a 'boyfriend' jacket. Not sure I can pull it off, however. :)

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  29. Wow, how utterly amazing that you still have the jacket and you can wear it and post pics of the pattern and everything!! This such a treat to see. I hope you continue to enjoy wearing it - what beautiful work!

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  30. I LOVE it on you! Clothes bring back memories, don't they? Great save. Wear it often!

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  31. You are my new style, creativity and chutzpah icon. Impressive, every inch, and so glad you have your weight where you want it to be! Lovely you, and that's just an amazing retro jacket. Talented lady!

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  32. Great that you kept it so that it could come to life again!

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  33. I think I have that pattern. You made it fresh an new. Came from Marci Tilton's Blog...going to follow you too, cause I'm a 60+, uber booby, etc. too. Laurel

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  34. I recognized that jacket from the thumbnail! I made that one when I was in high school, also in a plaid (B&W) with solid black wool accents. I made the pants too and I remember how I loved them but they didn't match the jacket at all, so no C. Montana suit at Hampton High. I still think Montana has put out some of the best designer Vogues. Cool designs, interesting and some are still wearable (not too dated).

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  35. Talk about deja vu! I made this jacket in a checked wool from Britex when I was teaching tailoring back in the '80's....and wish I still had it, it is a great pattern, a non-strict slouchy blazer (but not a blazer). Yours is great. I loved this shirt too....and did the pants in corduroy cut on the bias. This is one of the great classic patterns, think mine is long gone, but your version has withstood the test of time.
    Kudos!
    Marcy

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  36. That's a great versatile jacket. You can use it for casual wear or even dress it up if you want to. As usual, you did a wonderful job on this one.

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